Page:Lange - The Blue Fairy Book.djvu/138

 smelt such exquisite flowers. They reminded him of his promise to Beauty, and he stopped and had just gathered one to take to her when he was startled by a strange noise behind him. Turning round, he saw a frightful Beast, which seemed to be very angry and said, in a terrible voice:



‘Who told you that you might gather my roses? Was it not enough that I allowed you to be in my palace and was kind to you? This is the way you show your gratitude, by stealing my flowers! But your insolence shall not go unpunished.’ The merchant, terrified by these furious words, dropped the fatal rose, and, throwing himself on his knees, cried: ‘Pardon me, noble sir. I am truly grateful to you for your hospitality, which was so magni-